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I actually think SBW has found his role as pre game - half time - post game input. Much better than his in game efforts. He's a refreshing change from Justin 'corporate lingo decision matrix' Harrison.

Commiserations. You could see the writing on the wall in the leadup to the game. I feel sorry for the players and the fans. One positive is the next coach is starting with a very low bar. A lot of work to be done to be ready for the Lions in 2025.

Watching other teams game plans at the World Cup just reinforces how flawed the ABs are. The ABs don't have one strong kicker in their backline and the best kicker in the squad Roigard doesn't even make the bench! ABs spent the whole second half stuck in their own half due to dumb selections...

The kicking issue has been there for a long time. The tactics combined with fairly average kickers in the ABs backs mean they are constantly on the back foot. ABs forwards are ok (still issues there) but aren't so good that they can survive a half where they are stuck in their own half. This...

ALB in 2016 was a handy replacement. He hasn't shown much in recent seasons - a bloke living off of reputation.

The only reason Scott Barrett faced the judiciary is because he got a red which is an automatic trip to the judiciary. The actual incident itself wasn't upgraded to red and wasn't cited separately.

I could tell from the haka we were in big trouble - going through the motions. All the AB weaknesses under Foster exposed: Discipline, handling skills, pop gun exits (huge fucking issue), a lack of leadership, a lack of depth in the forwards. It boggles my mind Foster picked 5 wingers in his...

The All Black RWC squad balance is fucking nuts and is already being exposed. They have 3 fit locks and 4 fit loosies meanwhile 6 outside backs if you could Beaudie as a 15. They should have picked either Lord or Finau in the RWC squad and ditched a winger.

Wonderful game by Akira today for Auckland. Best game he has played for a long time. He really rolled the sleeves up.

Ireland and England by far. Some of the recent victim complex by *some* Bok fans is pretty grating but every fanbase has their muppets.

I wonder if Eddie's plan for Donaldson is to just build some confidence back in him through training. No need to throw him to the wolves vs Boks or ABs. He's had a pretty rough 12 months with the loss to Italy on debut and then the Tahs season which was a bit of a disaster. He should get...

I was specifically talking about Parsons as he was the captain and leader for an underachieving Blues team for years and years. As for Quade in this particular situation I don't think his experience is particularly helpful. Gordon needs to grow and develop in his own space and not be looking...

That's true but that was more in relation to team bonding/position bonding and clarity than experience and mentoring. Parsons is a good example actually - as a Blues fan I respect him as a person and a player to have such a long career (and he's good value as a podcaster) but as a captain or...

Will be interesting to see which outside back gets the nod as first backup behind Marky Mark (Nawaqanitawase)/Marika/Kellaway

The fascination with Donaldson is weird but the idea of moving on from a player physically well past his prime combined with enormous mental scars/baggage in Quade is a smart one I think as you build for Lions 25/RWC 27.

Donaldson did play some minutes vs Italy last year

Just a note for you Reds fans that Kalani Thomas was superb for Auckland today in his NPC debut off of the bench (he got 30 minutes). Was a huge reason Auckland came back and won. His quick and accurate service helped transform the Auckland attack and aside from one misplaced offload he was...

Narawa can play both wings and fullback as well. Narawa was far better in his test than Stevenson was in his. Finau has to make the squad after that second half. Immense. That's what a test 6 looks like. I like Blackadder but he's not an out an out 6 - he's Jacobson's competition as versatile...

An excellent test match. A real win-win for both Wallabies and ABs in terms of RWC build ups. Wallabies can take huge confidence from that going into the World Cup and ABs can take great confidence in a come back win. Wallabies have a far better idea of their starting 15 & the ABs answered a...

He might get in because there's really no standout 4th midfielder. Havili probably the best of the bunch and has versatility but he'd be my 3rd ranked 12 behind Jordie and ALB and Havili doesn't play 13.